Wednesday football links: Kettani’s path to the Patriots, Big East speculation, Army Pinterest and more
May 23rd, 2012 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Eric Kettani, here scoring during the 2007 Poinsettia Bowl, took a unique road from the Naval Academy to the NFL. (Image of Sport photo by Kirby Lee via US Presswire)
From leaving the Navy to being honored by the Army to the never-ending offseason soap opera that is the Big East Conference, here’s some quick football hits while you pick your favorite “Anchorman” clip — sequel trailer or Tim Kennedy experience:
1. Kettani’s quest. The Boston Herald gives an extensive look at Naval Academy grad Lt. j.g. Eric Kettani’s struggle to secure an early release from service to play football for the New England Patriots, a release he was granted late last month. Kettani must pay back about $60,000 for his education and will continue to serve in the Navy Reserve. The Herald report outlines a complicated appeals process that involved Kettani, his brother/manager, a family friend in Jacksonville, Fla., who happened to be a retired Army colonel, and Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, whose Annapolis ties are firmly established.
2. Army honors. Speaking of NFL coaches, Tom Coughlin of the New York Giants and John Harbaugh of the Baltimore Ravens will receive the Army’s third-highest civilian honor today in Arlington, Va. Coughlin — who’ll get the honor from his friend, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno — will be honored for his work with military veterans and the USO; Harbaugh helped established Military Appreciation Day for the Ravens and has organized visits to military bases.
3. Big East blowout. Links for those who like to keep up with conference chaos: Two from Keith Pompey at the Philadelphia Inquirer — an overview of the league meetings so far in Florida and a look at proposed football divisions (Air Force fans: The second one includes the latest round of Falcons-to-the-Big East speculation). And Sports Illustrated’s Andy Staples offers his take here. Key quote: “When (if?) Navy joins the league for football in 2015 …”
4. Odds and ends. Navy makes the front page of ESPN’s “100 days till kickoff” section (No. 6 on the right-hand side). And are you up to speed on the photo-sharing site Pinterest? The folks at West Point are — here’s a page of pics from the spring game at Fort Benning, Ga.
Monday football roundup: More on Air Force’s Asher Clark, big Big East meeting, All-Independent Team out
May 21st, 2012 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force’s Asher Clark dives over Toledo’s Diauntae Morrow (5) to score during last year's Military Bowl -- Clark's last game with the Falcons. (Getty Images photo by Rob Carr)
Three quick hits for a Monday afternoon:
1. Clark’s dad: He didn’t know. The news broke Friday and The Associated Press picked it up Saturday: Senior Air Force running back Asher Clark, second on the Falcons’ all-time rushing list, is no longer at the school, reportedly after being part of an academy investigation into illegal drug use. Sunday, Frank Schwab at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette gave the Clark family’s side of the story via Asher’s father, Mark, who said his son thought he was smoking tobacco at a March 2011 party when in fact he’d been given a pipe packed with “Colorado Chronic” — a type of synthetic marijuana.
That act, Mark Clark said, resulted in his son’s dismissal from school. Key quote: “I get it, they made an example out of him. There are 4,000 cadets and they said, ‘If we’ll kick Asher Clark out of this school, we’ll kick you out even faster.’”
Mark Clark said the next step — re-enrolling at another school, filing a lawsuit, etc. — is up to his son. Air Force Academy officials would only tell The Gazette that Clark no longer attends the school and have not said whether he’ll be asked to reimburse the school for the cost of his education, which would be well into six figures.
2. Conference powwow. Officials from the Big East — including future members, like Navy — will meet this week in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla., and they’ve got plenty to talk about. ESPN blogger Andrea Adelson breaks down some of the issues here, and the Tampa Bay Times offers a good overview here. Major topics: Negotiating a new TV deal, finding a new commissioner, figuring out future division alignments and finding the league’s place in what’s become known as “BCS 2.0″ — the postseason setup that will begin after the 2014 season and could include a four-team playoff and radically different bowl affiliations. One piece of good news for the conference: It looks like Boise State’s still in the fold.
3. Independents’ day. Army junior running back Raymond Maples and Navy senior linebacker Matt Warrick were the only service academy representatives on Phil Steele’s All-Independent first team, which the college football guru released Friday. Eleven academy players — five Midshipmen and six Black Knights, including senior quarterback Trent Steelman — received second-team mentions. It’s a high honor, but the pool is limited — Army, Navy, Notre Dame and BYU are the only independent Football Bowl Subdivision programs this season.
Junior defends the Pentagon’s NASCAR sponsorships
May 18th, 2012 | After Action | Posted by Phil Creed
Dale Jr. wears the National Guard logo proudly, but military sponsorships of NASCAR might soon be a thing of the past. (Andrew Weber/US PRESSWIRE)
NASCAR is under fire in Congress, and Dale Earnhardt Jr. ain’t having it.
The House passed its version of the 2013 Defense Authorization Bill on Friday, and it includes a provision that would ban Pentagon sponsorship of NASCAR drivers. This development caused Earnhardt, driver of the National Guard Chevrolet, to trade some paint with Rep. Jack Kingston, R-Ga., one of the lawmakers who sponsored the amendment.
Junior sounded particular miffed that a fellow Southerner would be one of the leading advocates for the measure.
“The Republican from Georgia, he hasn’t even been to a NASCAR race,” Earnhardt told The Sporting News on Friday. “… [H]e’s a Republican from Georgia. He ought to have seen a NASCAR race by now.”
Rep. Betty McCollum, D-Minn., tried to add the provision to the authorization bill last year, but all she got for troubles were some death threats. This year, however, Kingston signed on as a co-sponsor with McCollum and the measure — which bans military sponsorship of all sports, not just NASCAR — passed.
“The old question always in politics is, ‘If not here, where, if not now, when, if not us, who?’” Kingston said of his efforts, apparently with a straight face. “I am a conservative Republican. I’m very pro-military, but at some point, we have to get in the habit of cutting programs that are less efficient, less effective.”
Ryan Newman’s Army Chevrolet is the other high-profile military sponsorship in NASCAR, which in the past has also had cars sponsored by the Navy and Marine Corps. Earnhardt, whose car is primarily sponsored by the Guard in 16 races (the Guard is an associate sponsor for 20 other races) is adamant that there is recruiting value in the Pentagon’s sponsorships.
“My experience with the Guard has been incredible,” Earnhardt told The Sporting News. “You feel like you are a part of it and meet a lot of people who have served and people that have recently enlisted, and that is an incredible experience for me that I am really proud of. … With what we’ve been through the last 10 or 15 years, that’s really important to me and has opened my eyes about the military and what is going on and how important that is to the country. It has been awesome for me, and I have been able to see how the marketing works and how beneficial that is to recruiting.”
Thursday football update: Concussion notes, more on Hall-of-Famer Thomas, SEALs and the NFL
May 17th, 2012 | After Action Air Force Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
A few football items for a Thursday, while we try to come up with some more sports that can be played on an aircraft carrier:
Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class Michael Soto reads a concussion evaluation guide Jan. 25 while his convoy travels through Helmand province, Afghanistan. A new study shows a link between brain injuries suffered in the war zone and on a football field. (Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Bryan Nygaard)
1. New concussion study: A must-read here, and it’s not good — scientists studying the autopsied brains of four combat veterans found “evidence of a progressive degenerative brain disorder known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a disease found in recent years among deceased professional football players who had suffered multiple concussions.” CTE symptoms include memory loss and suicidal thoughts, and the disorder can lead to dementia, according to the report. Researchers have said CTE likely stems from multiple concussions, but according to this report, a single war-zone “blast exposure” could do a similar amount of damage.
Football fans are familiar with the headlines but don’t always make the connection between gridiron injuries and the “invisible wounds” that have drawn the military’s attention throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. This study may strengthen that connection and gives yet another reason for military-NFL cooperation in battling brain injuries.
(Off-topic, but not really: The fall youth sports season is approaching — it starts earlier every year. Many military families have players and/or coaches involved, especially in the youth football ranks. Be prepared.)
2. On a positive note: We told you about Air Force Academy safety Scott Thomas’ induction into the College Football Hall of Fame earlier this week. We could bury you in stats and superlatives, but if you want a real look what makes Thomas an all-time great, visit The Air Force Academy Sports Blog over at The (Colorado Springs, Colo.) Gazette. Frank Schwab talks to Thomas’ wingman and has posted must-hear audio of the defender-turned-fighter pilot, cool as can be, discussing a developing engine fire. On his F-16. That he’s flying over Iraq. Key quote: “Bummer.”
3. Searching for SEALs: We missed this from a few weeks back — Gidget Fuentes of Navy Times outlined the Navy SEALs’ diversity efforts in a recent story and mentioned that the Navy had partnered with the NFL Regional Combines to help attract candidates of all backgrounds, especially minorities. A quick look at the regional combine website confirms that partnership. According to the report, nearly 100 prospective football players spoke with Navy folks about becoming prospective special operators. Here’s a good look at the regional program, which the league took over last year.
Ensign’s made a splash
May 16th, 2012 | After Action Coast Guard | Posted by Sean Smyth
Cadet 1st Class Orlando Morel is shown above the Coast Guard cutter Eagle in 2011. (Coast Guard photo via AP)
The story’s been making the rounds for the past few days, about how a young boy rescued by Coast Guard crews walked across the stage at today’s commencement ceremonies at the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Conn.
What you may not know is that Ensign Orlando Morel, that rescued boy, was a big contributor to Coast Guard’s swimming team.
Morel was one of the Bears’ top divers, regularly capturing wins in the 1- and 2-meter dives.
Nearly 20 years have passed since Morel’s rescue, but the story still resonates. “I don’t think that anything I can do will be enough as payback,” Morel said.
If you’ve missed the story, we suggest giving it a read.
Air Force’s Calhoun top service academy football coach on Sporting News list
May 10th, 2012 | After Action Air Force Army Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Air Force's Troy Calhoun is tops among service academy coaches in a recent Sporting News ranking. (US Presswire photo by Ron Chenoy)
The Sporting News just released its ranking of all 124 college football coaches. It gives new meaning to the word “complete.” Also, possibly new meaning to the word “long.”
We’ll simplify for you service academy football fans: Air Force gets bragging rights, with head coach Troy Calhoun checking in at No. 29.
Navy’s Ken Niumatalolo checks in at No. 35, while Army’s Rich Ellerson rounds out the academy pack at 79. The SN folks don’t spell out their methodology, but if you went by traditional metrics — you know, like their records from last year — you’d have the same order of finish.
These rankings don’t quite line up with the coaches’ paychecks — if the SN folks are right, Air Force might have themselves a good deal.
Former Annapolis head man Paul Johnson, now at Georgia Tech, ranks 19th. Alabama’s Nick Saban leads the rankings. Charley Molnar of the University of Massachusetts ranks last — UMass is new to the Football Bowl Subdivision, and Molnar’s entering his first season.
Big East reaction roundup: Opinions fly after commish steps down
May 9th, 2012 | After Action Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
After Action weighed in Monday on what the resignation of Big East Commissioner John Marinatto might mean to the Navy football program, which will begin play in the Big East in 2015 and was brought in as part of a Marinatto-led football expansion.
We weren’t the only ones. Click through for links to four other pieces on the future of the conference, plus some Navy-themed notes on each.
Football-in-Ireland update: Check out the cleats, prep school tournament, Notre Dame history
May 8th, 2012 | After Action Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Three quick updates on the hoopla surrounding Navy football’s season opener, including a reason to watch the game in black and white, if possible.
1. Tricolor cleats. This is the reason — Notre Dame players will honor (?) the host country with footwear resembling the Irish flag, according to multiple reports (like this one). Will they mesh with Notre Dame’s blue-and-gold uniforms? Will Navy attempt to answer this opening outfit salvo with one of its own? (Update: Navy’s quick Twitter response to the cleats) Will somebody try for a Navy working uniform version of this Army gem? Only the equipment managers know for sure.
2. Other games in town. Ten high schools and two small colleges will play football on the Emerald Isle the weekend of the big Notre Dame-Navy clash. Global Football Inc. is putting on a six-game event called — what else — Dublin Friday Night Lights. Contests will be spread out across the city, including games at Donnybrook Stadium, which might be the greatest stadium name ever. Click here for a Philly.com report on Father Judge, a Philadelphia school planning its trip. Navy fans can expect to see a good number of prep-school faithful on hand for the big college game, as many of the travel packages offered by the high schools and event organizers include tickets to watch the Mids and the Irish.
3. Irish history. Notre Dame has begun its online countdown of 125 great moments in the school’s 125-year football history. Navy’s been a major part of that storied past, facing the Irish since 1927. Will Roger Staubach come up? Or maybe this 2007 highlight reel? Anything’s possible.
Big East commissioner steps down: 5 reasons Navy fans should care
May 7th, 2012 | After Action Football Navy | Posted by Kevin Lilley
John Marinatto, who has led the Big East's recent expansion efforts, including the addition of Navy football, resigned as the league's commissioner Monday. (AP file photo by Stew Milne)
John Marinatto is out as Big East commissioner. His departure was first reported by CBS Sports’ Brett McMurphy, who also reported that Marinatto may have jumped before he was pushed — league presidents asked for his resignation Sunday, according to McMurphy’s sources.
Marinatto extolled the virtues of the academy’s football-only move to the Big East alongside Navy officials shortly after the official announcement was named. The commish since 2009, he was behind the conference’s expansion efforts that have ranged from next-door neighbors to Conference USA refugees to schools on the other side of the country. He’s also been on hand for the defection of West Virginia to the Big 12 and the planned defections of Pitt and Syracuse to the Atlantic Coast Conference sometime after this football season. An interim successor has been named, but no timeline has been set for a permanent replacement.
Why would Navy fans need to worry about Marinatto’s departure, years before the Mids begin conference play? Click through to find out.
Army Olympian update: Secretary stops by, Lester takes top honor, WCAP web update
May 7th, 2012 | After Action Army Wrestling | Posted by Kevin Lilley
Army Secretary John McHugh, middle right, chats with soldier-athletes including Sgt. 1st Class Dremiel Byers, far right, during a recent visit to the Olympic training center in Colorado Springs, Colo. (Army photo)
Some quick Olympic updates while you attempt to schedule a therapy session after watching the latest Tim Kennedy video:
1. Hosting the secretary. It’s the setup to the oldest joke in the book: Some wrestlers, a racewalker, a bobsledder and the secretary of the Army walk into a cafeteria …
No, seriously — Army Secretary John McHugh made the trip to Colorado Springs, Colo., to chat with soldier-Olympians and Paralympic athletes over lunch May 2, giving him a close-up look at competitors who’ll represent his service on the world stage this summer. Tim Hipps of the Army’s Installation Management Command has the full report here, including snippets of conversations McHugh had with London-bound wrestlers Sgt. Spenser Mango and Sgt. 1st Class Dremiel Byers. (Byers identifies himself as a heavyweight. McHugh: “I can see that.”) McHugh also related his experience on a bobsled run at Lake Placid, N.Y., and praised the soldiers in the Army World Class Athlete Program for their commitment to both sport and service.
2. Web makeover. We’d prefer you get all your military Olympics news here, but if you absolutely, positively have to go somewhere else, check out the revamped WCAP Olympian site for full bios on all Army participants, including coaches. Tell them we sent you.
3. Lester’s spotlight. Speaking of elite Army athletes, Spc. Justin Lester added another title recently — the best U.S. Greco-Roman wrestler of 2011. Lester, who qualified for the Olympics in the 66-kilogram weight class last month in Iowa City, earned USA Wrestling’s Wrestler of the Year honors after winning U.S. Open titles in two weight classes (74 and 66 kg) in 2011. He also took fifth in the 66-kg class at the 2011 World Championships in Turkey, which qualified the U.S. for the Olympics in that weight class.
It was the first such honor for Lester. Fellow WCAP and Team USA wrestler Byers has won the award three times (2009, 2002, 1999).